Impulse current relay



March 20, 1951 s. F. E. MEYER IMPULSE CURRENT RELAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 19, 1946 Inventor 67 07 ITf/JR/K [RH/m0 MEYER y 2 u 7? 9 5 Na0 w 1 7 Q A- 2 March 20, 1951 s, MEYER 2,545,669

IMPULSE CURRENT RELAY Filed Feb. 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar.20, 1951 IMPULSE CURRENT RELAY Sven'Fred'rik Erhard Meyer, Stockhohn,Sweden Application February 19, 1946, Serial No. 648,786 In Sweden April19, 1945 11 Claims.

The present invention refers to an impulse current relay provided with.an electromagnet adapted to be connected into an impulse circuit andwith an electromagnet armature adapted to be adjusted into variouspositions. Ina previously known mercury relay of the type inconsideration, the electromagnet is so arranged that the armature isdisplaced from one position into another consequent to a current impulsethrough the electromagnet. This involves rather a great powerconsumption, inasmuch as the attractive force of the electromagnet willhave to be utilized for the displacement of the armature over at leastthe major portion of its path of movement. For the purpose of reducingthe distance between the magnet poles and the two. armature positions,the armature would be made to the shape of a rod while being arranged tobe displaced in the axial direction, which would involve the drawbackamong others that the armature could be hurled through an unintentionalshortening of the duration of the current impulse as a projectileagainst the wall of the glass vessel, without being impeded by theelectromagnet. Consequently, there is a rick of fatiguing of the glasswall and shattering of the same.

The invention obviates the above mentioned drawbacks substantially bythe fact that the armature or a portion thereof is constituted by aplate-like body which is adapted to be displaced by the electromagnetthrough a tipping movement from the position of rest into a positionwhence it returns by its own weight into the position of rest.

The accompanying drawings illustrate various forms of embodimentaccording to the invention. Fig. 1 shows a relay in elevation. Fig. 2 isan endwise View of the same relay. Figs. 3 and 4 are endwise views ofthe glass vessel of the same relay provided with an armature of amodified construction in two different working positions. Fig. 5 is anelevation of a further embodiment of the relay. Fig. 6 shows the samerelay with its armature in another working position. Fig. 7 is a sectionon line 1-1 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an elevation and Fig. 9 a plan view ofa third embodiment. Fig. 10 is an elevation of a relay adapted to beused as an optical signalling device. Fig. 11 shows a cross section online ll-H in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is an elevation of a relay arranged as aglow lamp, the same being likewise intended for signalling purposes.Figs. 13-22 show embodiments, wherein the armature is sleeve-shaped andcomposed of two or more plate-like bodies. Fig. 13 is an endwise view ofsimilar relay, which is shown in elevation in Fig. 14. Fig. 15 is anendwise view of a modification of the relay shown in Fig. 1.3. Fig. 16is an endwise View of a further embodiment of the invention. Fig. 17 isan elevational view of the relay of Fig. 16. Fig. 18 shows the armatureof this relay developedv in a plane. Figs. 19-21 illustrate a furtherform of embodiment in the same manner as Figs. 16-18. Fig. 22 is a planview of the same embodiment.

In all of the embodiments, the relay is provided with a substantiallycylindrical glass vessel closed in a gas tight manner and intended to bemounted with its axis extending horizontally. The glass vesselpreferably contains an inert or neutral gas to prevent oxidation at thebreak points of the relay. Bottom contacts adapted to be connected intoa working circuit are melted into the vessel or into portions of aspherical or otherwise enlarged shape connected to the end portions ofthe vessel. The armature constitutes a connecting member cooperatingwith said inserted. bottom contacts, which in most of the embodimentsare enclosed by mercury drops contacting with the armature or contactmembers connected thereto in some of the positions of rest of thearmature.

The relay according to Figs. 1 and 2 is pro,- Vided with a cylindricalglass vessel I. Melted into two cup-shaped depressions on the bottomwall of the glass vessel are .two contacts 2 and 3 for a workingcircuit, said contacts being each enclosed by a mercury drop 4 and 5respectively, said drops being arranged in the depressions. An armature6 formed to the shape of an oblong plate rests on the two mercury dropsserving as contact members, so that the bottom contacts 2 and 3 areelectrically connected with each other. The upper side of the armatureis coated with an electrically insulating layer 7. The armature may berotated about its longitudinal axis or may be turned s deways with theaid of two magnet pole shoes 8 pertaining to an electromagnet 9, whichis connected into an impulse current circuit and arranged outside theglass vessel 1, the pole shoes bearing on the glass vessel over a fourthof the circumference thereof, in a manner such that the lowermostportion of each pole shoe will be on a level with the axis of thecylindrical glass vessel, while the upper portion of the pole shoe ilocated at the highest point of the glass vessel. When the electromagnetis energized due to closing of the impulse current circuit, the armatureis attracted so as to have stant contact with the mercury ll.

a combined translatory and rotary movement imparted thereto by the poleshoes 8, the movement being along the cylindrical wall of the glassvessel. Fig. 2 shows by chain-dotted lines two positions of the armatureduring said movement.

The lower one of these positions illustrates the instant when the edgeof the armature adjacent to the pole shoe is raised toward the lower portion or" the poleshoe. The upper position corresponds to the finalposition of the movement. Upon breaking of the impulse current circuitthe armature will be released so as to fall from the latter position,with the insulated "side thereof then directed downwardly, into theposition of rest shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The connection between thecontacts 2 and 3 has thus been interrupted. The shifting of the armaturefrom the one position to the other may take place by a very shortcurrent impulse through the electromagnet.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the same glass vessel as' Figs. 1 and 2 and providedwith an armature Ill according to a modified construction. The armaturehas no insulating layer and is instead formed with longitudinallyextending bent edges ll, which are directed upwardly in Fig. 3. Here,the plane portion of the armature bears on the mercury drops so as toestablish contact between the contacts 2 and 3 of the working circuit.In Fig. 4, the armature H! has been rotated in the same manner asdescribed in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, so that the edge portions iiare directed downwardly so as to rest on the wall of the glass vessel,thus causing the plane portion of the armature to be at some distancefrom the mercury drops. This position consequently is that in which thecontrol circuit is broken at the relay.

The embodiment of the glass vessel shovF-rl in Figs. 5-7 corresponds tothe form of embodiment described above by the fact that a cylindricalportion I2 is arranged to cooperate with an electromagnet of theabove-mentioned type. A bottom contact [3 is in electrical connectionwith a mercury band M extending along the bottom portion of the glassvessel; said mercury band carry ing a flat armature l5. This armaturemay have a shifting movement imparted thereto in the same manner as thearmature 6 according to Figs. 1 and 2. However, the armature i5 isprovided with an angularly bent contact arm IS, which in the position ofthe armature shown in Fig. 5 dips down into mercury l'l in a torus-likeportion l8 of the glass vessel arranged coaxially with the portion l2. Abottom contact i9 is in con- By turning the armature sideways, theposition shown in Fig. 6 is obtained, wherein the contact arm i6 isdirected upwardly and consequently is not .in electrical connection withthe contact i 9. This is the breaking position of the relay. Here, toothe width of the armature I5 is adapted to the cylindrical portion [2 ofthe glass vessel, so that the cylindrical wall forms a guiding means forthe armature during the shifting movement. By a further development ofthe embodiment shown in Figs. 5-7, the armature may be provided withwidely difiering arrangements of contact arms or contact horns directedin the same direction or. for instance, for pole changing in differentdirections. Here, the position of the contacts on the armature isobviously arbitrary, inasmuch as mercury contacts may be arrangedanywhere within the glass vesselby the provision ofpartitions or disheddepressions in the glass wall.

According to Figs. 8 and 9, the glass vessel is provided with acylindrical middle portion 26 and with spherical end portions 25 havingbottom contacts 22 melted into the same, said contacts being arranged inconductive connection each with a mercury drop. Here, a flat armature 23is provided at both end portions thereof with angle arms 24 directed inthe same direction. In Fig. 8, the angle arms are in contact with themercury drops in the vessel, whereas the armature 23 bears with itslongitudinally extending edges on the wall of the cylindrical portion25!. Chaindotted lines'indicate the breaking position of the contactarms 2 The armature 23 is then on the same level as in thecurrent-closing position. Alternatively, the glass vessel may beprovided with a third contact connection, for instance on thecylindrical portion 20, the angle arms 24 being then directed inopposite directions. These arms consequently establish contactalternately, whereas the middle contact always touches the armature 23in its position of rest.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a relay intended to be used as an opticalsignal, the same being comprised, for instance, in an annunciator forthe calling of employees. The glass vessel proper is constituted by atube 25 which is closed by head members 25. Resting within the glassvessel is an armature 21 formed as the armature 26 in the form ofembodiment described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The relay,however, has no working contacts and only functions as an opticalsignal-'- ling device. For this purpose the armature is provided withinscriptions or signs adapted to be read off with the aid of an inclinedmirror 28 secured between two -head members 29. A plurality or" relaysmay be included in a calling board or annunciator. Upon closing of theimpulse current circuit the armature is turned sideways so that theinscription is rendered visible in the mirror, as indicated at 3E3. Thesignal thus remains unchanged until the next current impulse through theelectromagnet. A modification of the signalling device described isindicated in Fig. 12. Here, a cylindrical glass vessel 3| is formed as aglow lamp with two pole connections 32 and 33. A flat armature 34 isarranged and formed in the same manner as the armature 21 in theembodiment above "described, with the difference that the armature isprovided at the one end thereof with an insulating strip 35 which, whenthe armature is turned sideways from the position shown in the figure,will bear on the contact 32 for the purpose of breaking the currentthrough the glow lamp. In the position shown, the armature 34 forms oneelectrode of the glow lamp. The contact 33 is connected to the otherelectrode. The armature may thus be causedto glow, while an inscriptionon the armature may be provided by perforation or coating, so that theinscription stands out dark against a light background. The reading ,ofthe inscription may take place by means of an inclined mirror 36arranged in a similar manner as the mirror 28 in Figs. 10 and 11.

According to Figs. 13 14. and 15, the relay is provided with a glassvessel ll A bottom contact 32 is in conductive connection with a mercuryhead 43. Another bottom contact 44 is in connection with a mercury bead45. The two mercury beads are kept separated from each'other by means ofan inwardly directed fold in the wall of the glass vessel, as will be.seen from Fig. 14. A sleeve-shaped armatureAS is suspended on a shaft Alarranged centrally, in the cylindrical glass vessel. Thearmaturec'onsists of two platelike parts connected along theirlongitudinally extending edges by means of semi-cylindrical pot. tions,the distance between the plate-like parts being somewhat greater thanthe diameter or the shaft 41, so that the armature may be moved in adirection generally parallel to itself in the trans verse direction ofthe shaft. The upper edge of the armature in Fig. 13 is provided with aninsulating layer 48. With the aid of an electromagnet 49 with pole shoes50 the armature may be raised into the position indicated by chaindottedlines wherein the u per edge of the armature bears on the glass Wall oris in the proximity of the latter according to the relation of the widthof the armature to the distance between the shaft 4'? and the Wall. Thepole shoes 58 of the electrcinagnet to are made from comparatively thinsheet metal and directed against the wall of the glass vessel, one ateach end portion of the vessel. The pole shoes bear on the glass vesselalong a longitudinally extending zone lo cated somewhat laterally of thevertical plane through the shaft 41. Consequently, the armature willhave imparted thereto an oscillatory movement about the shaft, so thatthe upper edge in Fig. 131s moved in a first step, during the attractionmovement, upwardly toward the pole shoes 50, said upper edge fallingduring a se ond step, that is upon de-energization of magnet 49, in aswinging movement down to bear on the mercury contacts 43 and 45. Asstated above, said upper edge is coated with an insulating layer 48, thearmature thus establishing conductive connection between the bottomcontacts and 44 only in the one position, i. e. that shown in Figs. 13and 14.

In Fig. 15, the armature is shown in the breaking position, in which thearmature bears on the mercury contacts through the agency of theabove-mentioned insulating layer 48. In the modification shown in Fig.15, the pole shoes of the armature are formed with two tongues 52 and53, the first one or which bears on the wall of the glass vessel in thesame manner as the pole shoes 56, while the other tongue engages a fold54 in the wall of the vessel. On the one hand, this brings about aconsiderable reduction of the air gap between the pole shoes and thearmature, and, on the other hand, the two folds 54 form guide edges forthe armature during the movement of attraction.

The substantial difference between the embodiment described above andthat shown in Figs. 16-18 consists in that the armature is composed ofthree instead of two plate-like parts forming an equilateral triangle incross section. The glass vessel is designated by 55 and three bottomcontacts by 56, 5'! and 58 respectively. The latter may be used, forinstance, for pole changing. The tri-lateral armature is denoted by 59,and is coated externally on certain portions thereof with an insulatinglayer, as will appear from Fig. 18. The one side 65 is insulated in itsentirety, whereas the next side is provided with an insulating layer 6!adapted to insulate the armature from the end contact 58. The remainingside is provided with an insulating layer 62 at the end of the armaturecooperating with the contact 56. The remaining uncoated surface 53 onthe intermediate side may thus establish connection between the contacts56 and 51, the uncoated surface 54 of the third side being adapted toestablish connection between the contacts 51 and 58. Here, theestablishment of the cont tacts in connection with one another.

nection is dependent on the position of the'armatore. According to Fig.17, the metallic portion ea bears on the mercury contacts at 56 and 51,while the layer 5! insulates the armature from the contact 58. Thearmature is suspended on a shaft to, about which the same oscillates atthe movement of attraction. The electromagnet 61 is provided with poleshoes 68 arranged in a manner previously described, that is to say sothat the pole shoes embrace about a fourth of the circumference of thecylindrical glass vessel, the highest part of the pole shoes beinglocated at the upper side of the vessel. Upon energization of theel'ectromagnet the armature is turned with another side downwardly.After three cur--- rent impulses the armature will have returned intoits initial position.

According to Figs. 19-22, the armature is composed of four thin platesparts forming a square in cross section. The glass vessel, which isdesig hated by so, is provided with three cup-like'portions iscontaining mercury, said cups being each provided with a bottom contactH. The arma ture is denoted by 12 and provided with certain insulatedparts, as will appear from Fig. 21. One side is coated in its entiretywith an insulating layer 13. One of the sides adjacent to this has anend portion 14 thereof insulated, while the remaining portion '15 isunco-ated. In the same way, the other side adjacent to the layer i3 isinsulated, as at 16, and uncoated, as at 11. The remaining side it isuncoated in its entirety, so that the armature, bearing with this sideon the mercury contacts, brings all of the three con- The ermatu'ie issuspended on two mutually parallel shafts is, the end portions of whichare melted into the head pieces of the glass vessel. This relay operatesin principle in the same manner as the relay described with reference toFigs. 16-18.

What I claim is:

1. In an electromagnetic device of the type described, in combination,an electromagnet having a pair of pole pieces spaced apart along asubstantially horizontal line, an armature for said magnet, saidarmature having a longitudinai axis parallel to said line, meansnormally supporting said armature below and to oneslde of the centerline of pole pieces, means for energizing said magnet to attract saidarmature toward said pole pieces and for deenergizing said magnet topermit said armature to fall due to gravitational attraction, and meansfor causing said armature to return to its support in a positionangularly displaced about its own longitudinal axis with respect to itsinitial position, said means comprising means for guiding the movementof said armature during at least a portion of its traverse.

2. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that said armature isprovided with differing indicia on the faces thereof whereby said devicemay be utilized as a changeable sign or annunciator.

3. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the faces of saidarmature are provided with differing indicia and in that said indiciaare displayed by utilization of a mirror mounted out of the path of thearmature movement and in position to give a view of one of the faces ofsaid armature.

4. In an electromagnetic device of the type described, in combination,an electromagnet having a pair of pole pieces the center of the faces ofwhich are spaced apart along a substantially horizontal line, anarmature for said magnet, said armature having a, longitudinal axisparallel to said line and offset vertically from said line, meansnormally supporting said armature below said pole pieces, means forenergizing said magnet to attract said armature toward said pole piecesand for deenergizing said magnet to permit said armature to fall due togravitational attraction, and means for causing said armature to returnto its support in a position angularly displaced about its ownlongitudinal axis with respect to its initial position, said meanscomprising means for guiding said armature during at least a portion ofits traverse.

5. In an electromagnetic device of the type described, in combination,an electromagnet having a pair of pole pieces spaced apart along asubstantially horizontal line, an armature for said magnet, saidarmature having a longitudinal axis parallel to said line, meansnormally supporting said armatur below and to one side of the centerline of said pole pieces, insulatingly supported contacts engaging saidarmature in its rest position, means for energizing said magnet toattract said armature toward said pole pieces and for deenergizing saidmagnet to permit said armature to fall due to gravitational attraction,and means for causing said armature to return to its support in aposition angularly displaced about its own longitudinal axis withrespect to its initial position, said means comprising means for guidingsaid armature during at least a portion of its traverse, said armaturebeing adapted to complete a circuit between said contacts when in itsinitial rest position and to break said circuit when in its saidangularly displaced position.

6. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that the armature islaminated one lamination being electrically conductive and the otherelectrically insulating.

7. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that the armature isin the form of a plate the lateral edges of which are bent so that inone position the armature is held out of contact with said contacts,said edges resting on said support while in the other position the bentup edges are out of contact with said support and the armature comesinto contact with said contacts.

8. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that one of saidcontacts is at a lower level than another and said armature is providedwith a bent up end which extends toward and into contact with said lowerlevel contact when the armature is in one of its two restingpositionsand extends upwardly and away from said lower level contactwhen the armature is in the other of its resting positions.

1 9. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that said supportcomprises a portion of a cylindrical enclosure extending about saidarmature with its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of saidarmature and said guiding means comprises a portion of the wall of saidenclosure.

10. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that the supportingmember comprises a portion of the wall of a cylindrical enclosureextending about said armature with its axis parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the armature, a portion of th wall of the enclosure serving alsofor guiding the movement of said armature and in that the said polepieces extend about substantially a quarter of the entire circumferenceof the cylindrical enclosure and conform generally to the shape thereof.

11. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that the armaturecomprises a multi-sided member, one side of which makes contact withsaid contacts in any resting position of the armature and in that aguiding member is provided which extends substantially longitudinally ofthe enclosure and about which said multi-sided armature rotates uponenergization and which serves as a guide for the following movement ofthe armature upon de-energization of said electromagnet.

SVEN FREDRIK ERHARD MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,066,894 Mcllvaine Jan. 5, 1937FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,657 Great Britain Dec. 9, 1910256,328 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1926 350,234 Ital July 8, 1937

